NEW YORK - The Houston Rockets today assigned rookie forward Royce White to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets' NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 84th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, while White becomes the 45th NBA player to be assigned to the NBA D-League this season, another new League record.

White (6-8, 260, Iowa State) was selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Rockets and appeared in four preseason games for the team, averaging 2.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 12.3 minutes. He has been on Houston's inactive list for much of the season.

White is expected to join the Vipers tonight and be available Sunday, Dec. 30, when the team travels to face the Bakersfield Jam at 10 p.m. ET.

Rockets fans can follow White during his time with the Vipers on NBADLeague.com powered by YouTube to watch all of Rio Grande Valley's games live, online, for free.